SPONSOR


DESCRIPTION


Clays specialises in the manufacture of monochrome books, reacting quickly to  


IMPRINT OF THE YEAR AVON


THE SHORTLIST


WINNER  HARPERCOLLINS


HIGHLY COMMENDED


 PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE CHILDRENS


 PAN MACMILLAN


 PRH


Electric Monkey EGMONT


Hamish Hamilton PRH


Piatkus HACHETTE


 PAN MACMILLAN


Zaffre BONNIER BOOKS UK


S


et up by HarperCollins back in 2007, Avon has been a consistent rather than spectacular performer in commercial fiction, though it has


been shortlisted for Imprint of the Year twice since its launch. But last year saw it firing on all cylinders, with its small, dynamic team achieving strong growth right across its publishing. C L Taylor’s Sleep was its standout hit in the


TCM, but success with Mandy Robotham and Lorna Cook showed how quickly it turns little- known names into brands. While supermarkets remain its heartland, it ramped-up its digital publishing too, and brought audio closer into the fold. Beyond the UK, rights sales doubled and exports grew by a third. There was some good work on social mobility as well, with an open submissions policy and a partnership with the Big Issue to find a new crime writer, both helping to cast its net beyond the London bubble.


29 Avon clearly commands huge respect among


authors and agents, who admire its blend of a boutique approach to publishing with powerful sales and marketing resources. “It’s ambitious and innovative, publishes with passion and commit- ment, and improves on sales and promotion with every book,” said one agent. The judges also applauded its commercial hit rate and energy: “For a small team, it’s had great success.”


HIGHLY COMMENDED in this category is Ladybird at PRH Children’s. Now in its second century, it is one of the most revered lists in children’s publishing, but apps, audio, YouTube and social media activity showed it remains one of the most forward-thinking. Sales jumped at its relaunched trade list and licensing powerhouse, and it did good work on literacy and diversity. “There was joined-up, imaginative thinking and impressive growth across the list,” said the judges.


AVON PUBLISHING DIRECTOR HELEN HUTHWAITE HAS


OVERSEEN THE IMPRINTS RECENT PURPLE PATCH


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48